Biotechnology
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5 / 10Stock Comparison
VTVT vs ATHA vs AVXL vs SAVA vs ACAD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
VTVT vs ATHA vs AVXL vs SAVA vs ACAD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $261M | $17M | $289M | $94M | $3.86B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $-24K | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.10B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-27M | $-129M | $-40M | $-106M | $376M |
| Gross Margin | — | — | — | — | 91.5% |
| Operating Margin | — | — | — | — | 7.4% |
| Forward P/E | — | — | — | — | 55.6x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $803K | $0.00 | $0.00 | $52M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $89M | $69M | $103M | $129M | $178M |
VTVT vs ATHA vs AVXL vs SAVA vs ACAD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Sep 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| vTv Therapeutics In… (VTVT) | 100 | 43.3 | -56.7% |
| Athira Pharma, Inc. (ATHA) | 100 | 2.6 | -97.4% |
| Anavex Life Science… (AVXL) | 100 | 70.8 | -29.2% |
| Cassava Sciences, I… (SAVA) | 100 | 139.0 | +39.0% |
| ACADIA Pharmaceutic… (ACAD) | 100 | 54.3 | -45.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: VTVT vs ATHA vs AVXL vs SAVA vs ACAD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
VTVT is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability and sleep-well-at-night is your priority.
- beta 0.81
- Lower volatility, beta 0.81, current ratio 13.54x
- Beta 0.81, current ratio 13.54x
- Beta 0.81 vs SAVA's 2.02
ATHA ranks third and is worth considering specifically for momentum.
- +81.6% vs AVXL's -63.2%
AVXL lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
SAVA is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- -19.5% 10Y total return vs ACAD's -22.9%
ACAD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 11.9%, EPS growth 68.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 27.5%
- 11.9% revenue growth vs SAVA's -5.4%
- 34.3% margin vs VTVT's 2.1%
- 26.2% ROA vs ATHA's -225.7%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.9% revenue growth vs SAVA's -5.4% | |
| Quality / Margins | 34.3% margin vs VTVT's 2.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.81 vs SAVA's 2.02 | |
| Dividends | Tie | None of these 5 stocks pay a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +81.6% vs AVXL's -63.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 26.2% ROA vs ATHA's -225.7% |
VTVT vs ATHA vs AVXL vs SAVA vs ACAD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
VTVT vs ATHA vs AVXL vs SAVA vs ACAD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 5 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
ACAD leads in 2 of 6 categories
VTVT leads 0 • ATHA leads 0 • AVXL leads 0 • SAVA leads 0 • 3 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — SAVA and ACAD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACAD and VTVT operate at a comparable scale, with $1.1B and -$24,000 in trailing revenue. On growth, ACAD holds the edge at +9.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | -$24,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$33M | -$110M | -$30M | -$110M | $96M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$27M | -$129M | -$40M | -$106M | $376M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$25M | -$52M | -$34M | -$84M | $212M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | — | +91.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | — | +7.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | — | +34.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | — | +19.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.4% | — | — | — | +9.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.9% | +24.8% | +54.4% | +62.1% | -81.8% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — VTVT and ATHA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $261M | $17M | $289M | $94M | $3.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $173M | -$30M | $187M | -$34M | $3.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -9.70x | -0.17x | -5.78x | -3.76x | 9.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — | 55.62x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | — | — | 26.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | — | 3.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.06x | 0.37x | 2.81x | 0.63x | 3.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | — | 36.74x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ACAD leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACAD delivers a 35.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $36 in annual profit, vs $-4 for ATHA. ATHA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACAD's 0.04x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACAD scores 6/9 vs SAVA's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -73.8% | -3.8% | -31.5% | -95.8% | +35.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -43.5% | -2.3% | -30.0% | -75.3% | +26.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | — | — | -6.3% | +10.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -56.4% | -2.3% | -47.8% | -99.9% | +10.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.03x | — | — | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$89M | -$68M | -$103M | -$129M | -$126M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $89M | $69M | $103M | $129M | $178M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $803,000 | $0 | $0 | $52M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -5408.17x | — | — | — | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ACAD leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACAD five years ago would be worth $10,710 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $235 for ATHA. Over the past 12 months, ATHA leads with a +81.6% total return vs AVXL's -63.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACAD at 1.5% vs ATHA's -46.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -21.6% | -37.6% | -15.2% | -6.5% | -13.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.5% | +81.6% | -63.2% | +25.3% | +52.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -0.5% | -84.8% | -62.9% | -40.8% | +4.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -68.6% | -97.7% | -72.4% | -67.0% | +7.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.0% | -97.5% | -25.7% | -19.5% | -22.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -0.2% | -46.7% | -28.1% | -16.0% | +1.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — VTVT and ACAD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VTVT is the less volatile stock with a 0.81 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SAVA's 2.02 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ACAD currently trades 81.1% from its 52-week high vs AVXL's 22.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.71x | 1.38x | 1.45x | 2.02x | 1.11x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $44.00 | $8.36 | $13.99 | $4.98 | $27.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.00 | $2.30 | $2.61 | $1.51 | $14.45 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +70.5% | +51.9% | +22.3% | +39.3% | +81.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.1 | 38.4 | 47.0 | 46.8 | 44.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 61K | 46K | 1.4M | 712K | 1.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: VTVT as "Buy", AVXL as "Buy", SAVA as "Buy", ACAD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 252.6% upside for AVXL (target: $11) vs 54.1% for ACAD (target: $35).
| Metric | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | — | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $51.33 | — | $11.00 | — | $34.78 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | — | 13 | 12 | 37 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ACAD leads in 2 of 6 categories — strongest in Profitability & Efficiency and Total Returns. 3 categories are tied.
VTVT vs ATHA vs AVXL vs SAVA vs ACAD: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VTVT or ATHA or AVXL or SAVA or ACAD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the stronger pick with 11. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -100. 0% for vTv Therapeutics Inc. (VTVT). ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) offers the better valuation at 9. 9x trailing P/E (55. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate vTv Therapeutics Inc. (VTVT) a "Buy" — based on 14 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — VTVT or ATHA or AVXL or SAVA or ACAD?
Over the past 5 years, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) delivered a total return of +7. 1%, compared to -97. 7% for Athira Pharma, Inc. (ATHA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAVA returned -19. 5% versus ATHA's -97. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — VTVT or ATHA or AVXL or SAVA or ACAD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), vTv Therapeutics Inc.
(VTVT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 71β versus Cassava Sciences, Inc. 's 2. 02β — meaning SAVA is approximately 186% more volatile than VTVT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Athira Pharma, Inc. (ATHA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 4% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — VTVT or ATHA or AVXL or SAVA or ACAD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is pulling ahead at 11. 9% versus -100. 0% for vTv Therapeutics Inc. (VTVT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cassava Sciences, Inc. grew EPS 77. 6% year-over-year, compared to -3. 8% for Anavex Life Sciences Corp.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — VTVT or ATHA or AVXL or SAVA or ACAD?
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 5% net margin versus 0. 0% for Cassava Sciences, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACAD leads at 9. 8% versus 0. 0% for SAVA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACAD leads at 91. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is VTVT or ATHA or AVXL or SAVA or ACAD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVXL: 252.
6% to $11. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — VTVT or ATHA or AVXL or SAVA or ACAD?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
08Is VTVT or ATHA or AVXL or SAVA or ACAD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, vTv Therapeutics Inc.
(VTVT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 71)). Cassava Sciences, Inc. (SAVA) carries a higher beta of 2. 02 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VTVT: -87. 1%, SAVA: -19. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between VTVT and ATHA and AVXL and SAVA and ACAD?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: VTVT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ATHA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AVXL is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SAVA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACAD is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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